Introduction
The Lotus Sports Club offers very popular dragon boat paddling programs for both experienced, competitive paddlers and for recreational/novice paddlers. We encourage you to come and try this exciting team watersport!
History of Dragon Boat
The dragon is one of the most venerated of Chinese zodiac deities and has traditionally been a symbol of water. Dragon boat racing began over 2,000 years ago. One legend about the origin of dragon boat racing involves the highly respected poet and statesman named Qu Yuan who lived in the Chinese kingdom of Chu. Qu Yuan spoke out about the corruption in the government and was banished from the kingdom. Either as an act of despair or a protest against the government, he threw himself into the Mei Lo River. Local fishermen tried to save the patriotic poet by racing out in their boats. They beat the waters furiously with their paddles and threw rice dumplings into the river to distract the fish. The story is that dragon boat races commemorate the fishermen's rescue attempt. Some sources state that races were also a fertility rite to appease the dragon and ensure plentiful crops.
The first dragon boat races were thought to be mock dragon battles meant to awaken the hibernating dragon. There were often violent clashes between boats with crew members throwing stones and striking one another with bamboo sticks. Onlookers would also become involved and would greet opposing boats with a hail of stones. Sacrifices, sometimes human, were believed to be part of these earliest races - any paddlers who fell into the water were offered no assistance because this was thought to be the will of the gods. (Source: Wikipedia).
Dragon boats are approximately 40 feet in length. Elaborately decorated with scales, dragon boats have bows with heads shaped like open-mouthed dragons and sterns with a scaly tail. Moving a dragon boat efficiently requires twenty paddlers to work with proper technique, synchronized timing and power. A drummer sits at the front of the boat and encourages the team to maintain timing by following the beat of the drum...the "heartbeat of the dragon." A steersperson stands at the stern. Dragon boat racing is not only an activity which develops physical strength and endurance, it is also a social sport which develops teamwork and friendships among the participants.
Dragon boat racing is often cited as the second fastest growing sport in the world. In a sport historically dominated by Asian countries, Canada has emerged as a significant paddling force and several Canadian teams have won the world championship since the first Dragon Boat World Championships in 1976. Be a part of the excitement!